Engineering, Other: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 21 reporting college programs.
+$234,662 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
This is a positive modeled result. Price, time to finish and future earnings can still change the outcome.
Observed national outcomes
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $108,995
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 1
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $94,278
- Federal debt
- $22,875
- Reporting programs
- 21
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $115,690
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 16
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $113,720
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $84,820
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Stanford University$115,2062Northeastern University$112,0193Louisiana Tech University$105,0804Massachusetts Maritime Academy$104,0075California State University, Chico$103,2726Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus$102,1347Stevens Institute of Technology$99,6918Ohio State University-Main Campus$97,1449Oregon State University$94,27810Oregon State University-Cascades Campus$94,278Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford UniversityBachelor's Degree | Stanford, CA | $115,206 | $7,500 | +198% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Northeastern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $112,019 | $22,512 | +121% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Louisiana Tech UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ruston, LA | $105,080 | Not available | +164% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | Massachusetts Maritime AcademyBachelor's Degree | Buzzards Bay, MA | $104,007 | $26,500 | +122% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | California State University, ChicoBachelor's Degree | Chico, CA | $103,272 | $23,000 | +145% | Strong payoff |
| 6 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $102,134 | $26,000 | +83% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | Stevens Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Hoboken, NJ | $99,691 | Not available | +58% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Ohio State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $97,144 | $22,000 | +109% | Strong payoff |
| 9 | Oregon State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Corvallis, OR | $94,278 | $31,000 | +91% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | Oregon State University-Cascades CampusBachelor's Degree | Bend, OR | $94,278 | $31,000 | +95% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | University of Maryland-College ParkBachelor's Degree | College Park, MD | $92,653 | $18,750 | +96% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | Mississippi State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Mississippi State, MS | $91,124 | $19,469 | +84% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | Colorado State University PuebloBachelor's Degree | Pueblo, CO | $90,627 | $31,000 | +107% | Strong payoff |
| 14 | Indiana University-IndianapolisBachelor's Degree | Indianapolis, IN | $89,261 | $27,000 | +95% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | University of California, San DiegoBachelor's Degree | La Jolla, CA | $88,159 | $19,250 | +88% | Positive payoff |
| 16 | Purdue University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $87,331 | $20,000 | +78% | Positive payoff |
| 17 | Oregon Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Klamath Falls, OR | $81,872 | Not available | +52% | Positive payoff |
| 18 | Michigan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | East Lansing, MI | $79,609 | $22,875 | +34% | Positive payoff |
| 19 | Alfred UniversityBachelor's Degree | Alfred, NY | $71,845 | Not available | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | SUNY Polytechnic InstituteBachelor's Degree | Utica, NY | Not available | $13,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $14,164 |
| 21 | Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $31,027 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.